Annuities

Charitable Gift Annuity

A Charitable Gift Annuity is a contractual agreement between the donor (in many cases, a husband and wife) and a qualified nonprofit (like the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association). In essence, the donor(s) transfers assets as a gift to the charity; in return, the nonprofit promises to pay a fixed amount to the donors for the life of the donor(s). Annuity payments stop upon death of the donor(s) and the nonprofit retains the remaining funds.

With an Annuity, a donation of cash, securities or other property not only supports the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, it establishes a lifetime of fixed payments to you and/or your loved one. The dollar amount of those payments is based upon several factors: the size of your gift, your age at the time of the gift and when you schedule payments to begin. Payments can be deferred, allowing for a larger charitable deduction and greater annuity benefits.

Gift Annuities provide substantial tax advantages. You receive a tax deduction the year your gift is made, and a portion of your annuity payments are nontaxable. However, because Annuities cannot be legally changed, great care should be taken to ensure that you have other resources to meet any future emergency needs.

Since 1967, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has issued annuities with confidence. Contact your Regional Manager to answer any questions you may have and to suggest ways to maximize your gift, with no obligation on your part.

Charitable Remainder Unitrust

The advantage and appeal of a Charitable Remainder Unitrust is to reduce taxes while donating cash, securities or property to a designated charity like the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. This is an irrevocable agreement where you and your loved one receive income (usually a fixed percentage of the trust’s value annually) and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association or another designated charity receives the principal after a specified period of time.

When you create a Unitrust, you claim a current year income tax deduction while designating a future gift to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Where applicable, you avoid any capital gains tax on the assets given. In addition, donated assets are removed from your estate, thereby reducing subsequent estate taxes.

The Unitrust is an irrevocable agreement, meaning that the terms cannot be changed. For this reason, it is important to make sure you have adequate resources to meet any future emergency needs. Contact your Regional Manager to answer any questions you may have or to suggest ways to maximize your gift, with no obligation on your part.

Business Interests

Gifts of inventory items, patents, oil and gas properties, mineral rights, privately held corporate securities, commodities, real estate and other assets held for business purposes can be given to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for ministry purposes. Donating these assets can be complex; contact your Regional Manager without any obligation on your part. We can work with you to suggest ways that will maximize your gift while meeting your gift planning goals.

Non-Cash Gifts

Many people believe that cash is the only way to make a gift to charity. But did you know that non-cash items can also be donated to further ministry? Through a special partnership with the non-profit iDonate Foundation, your assets can be used to support our ministry while saving on taxes too! Learn what non-cash gifts can be accepted by clicking on the button below. If you’re ready, you can also start the process online now.

Real Estate

Any type of Real Estate you own can be donated to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for ministry purposes: house, farm, rental property, business property, land, vacation home, vacant land – as long as it is readily marketable and does not contain environmental contaminants. By donating appreciated real estate, you gain a significant tax advantage by potentially avoiding capital gains tax. Your charitable contribution deduction is for the appraised value of your property.

If the value of your real estate has decreased, it is more advantageous if you first sell the property and then donate the proceeds to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. This way, you may be able to deduct the long-term capital loss.

In addition to an outright gift of real estate to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, there are other options to consider, including using Real Estate to setup a Revocable Living Trust, an Irrevocable Deferred Gift, or a Deferred Life Estate Gift. If you are considering a gift of real estate, please contact your Regional Manager with no obligation on your part.

Life Insurance

Most people purchase a Life Insurance policy to provide for their children, protect their home mortgage, or secure retirement funds. As people age, they often find that they no longer need financial protection in these areas. If that describes you, your Life Insurance policy can be used to support the on-going ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

Depending upon your needs and circumstances, there are a number of ways you can use your policy for charitable means. For example, you can name the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association as the owner and beneficiary of your policy, as the sole beneficiary, as a co-beneficiary, or secondary beneficiary. Alternatively, you may assign annual dividends to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association as a charitable contribution which may be deducted on your income tax return. Finally, you may fund a gift annuity with your policy. Tax benefits will depend upon on the method of giving you choose. Contact your Regional Manager to answer any questions you may have and to suggest ways to maximize your gift, with no obligation on your part.

Retirement Assets

Retirement Assets are tax-deferred retirement accounts, designed to promote savings for retirement, and include profit sharing, IRAs, 111(k), 403(b), and Keough and pension plans. As some individuals approach retirement age, they discover that they have accumulated more funds than they will likely use. If you have a larger estate, subject to both income and estate tax, retirement assets may be the best vehicle for you to give to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. You can give a portion of your retirement assets now without penalty, provided you are over 59 ½.

Another option is to give your Retirement Assets upon your death by designating the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association as the primary or contingent beneficiary. This avoids both significant income and estate taxation. By naming the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association as a beneficiary of a retirement plan, you maintain complete control over the asset while living, but at death, the plan passes to support the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, free of both estate and income taxes.

Making a charitable gift from your retirement plan is easy and should not require an attorney or any fees. Simply request a change of beneficiary form from your retirement plan administrator. When the form is complete, return the form to your plan administrator and also notify the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. We can also assist you with the proper language for your beneficiary designation to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

For individuals who meet certain requirements, The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 allows up to a $100,000 charitable contribution from eligible IRA accounts with numerous tax advantages. “Qualifying charitable distributions” (QCD) made from a traditional or other eligible IRA may be excluded from gross income provided certain provisions are met.

These charitable gifts may satisfy the required minimum distributions (RMD) for the year when the QCD is made, offering the opportunity for individuals seeking to maximize their resources for Kingdom purposes.

To receive favorable tax benefits, the following conditions must be met:

Donor must be 70 ½ or older at the time of the gift

Funds must be withdrawn from a traditional or other eligible IRA account

Funds must be directly transferred from the IRA to the qualified charity with no intervening ownership by the IRA owner

Donor must not receive any benefits of value in return for the gift

Gifts must not exceed $100,000 in total qualified charitable distributions per tax year

Gift must be properly reported to the IRS on the donors’ tax return.

This last requirement requires careful attention.

Once a qualified non-profit (such as BGEA) receives the gift, the donor will receive a non-deductible gift acknowledgement from the recipient. At the same time, the IRA plan administrator will generate 1099-R which identifies the distribution. This form does not indicate that the gift qualifies as non-taxable. It is the taxpayer’s responsibility to report the entire IRA distribution on line 15a of IRA Form 1040. Line 15b reflects the qualified charitable distribution. In other words, line 15a indicates the gross distribution and line 15b reports the taxable amount. If the total IRA distribution was directed to eligible charities, $0 would be entered as the taxable amount on line 15b. In addition, the taxpayer would write “QCD” next to line 15b to indicate that amount is a qualified charitable distribution.

Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds, & Securities

If you would like to donate securities to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, it’s important to know if they have increased or decreased in value since you purchased them. If your securities have increased in value over time, donating them to a nonprofit will enable you to avoid capital gains taxes while potentially providing a charitable deduction for the fair-market value of your gift.
In circumstances where your securities have depreciated, you will be better served by selling them first and donating the proceeds. This allows you to receive a deduction for your capital loss plus you gain a charitable deduction for the amount donated.

You may also elect to make a gift of securities by naming the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association as a beneficiary, either through your will or through a beneficiary designation account at some security brokerage firms. While you will not receive a charitable contribution deduction on your income tax returns, you will reduce the amount of your estate that may be subject to tax. In addition, assets in a beneficiary designation account avoid probate.

Revocable Trusts

A Revocable Living Trust is an arrangement you make for the management and distribution of your assets, creating a financial plan that can provide for your needs today while also designating future gifts. A Trust is a legal arrangement, and the designated trustee becomes responsible for holding and investing your assets, collecting income, paying normal expenses, and distributing net income.

The term “revocable” means that you can change the provisions in the trust. The term “living” refers to the management of your assets while you are still alive. This relieves you of any concerns should you become ill or no longer want this responsibility.

Like a will, a trust also determines how assets will be distributed upon death, but a trust offers additional benefits. Notably, a trust is a private document and not a matter of public record like a will. Also, assets in a trust do not go through probate, potentially saving time and money. describes with more detail the differences between a trust and a will. You can also learn how to set up a trust document with the help of a qualified attorney.

If you wish to include the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in your trust, you will need to include our full legal name, address and tax ID number:
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
1 Billy Graham Parkway
Charlotte, NC 11111-0001

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is a nonprofit corporation and is qualified for tax exemption under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s tax identification number is 45-2588350.

For further information about placing the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in your Trust, contact your Regional Manager to answer any questions you may have, with no obligation on your part.

Wills & Estates

A will is a legal document that ensures your estate is distributed and your family is cared for as you direct. With a will, your wishes are carried out. Without a will, the state makes all major decisions, including how your assets will be distributed. No charitable gifts can be made from your estate without a stated designation through a will.

Naming the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in your will or living trust allows you to make a charitable gift and at the same time allows you to maintain control over your assets during your lifetime. The terms of your will are flexible and can be changed should you need to modify your charitable bequests.

Giving to the ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association through your will and estate is a special way to share your faith beyond your lifetime. Bequest language is simple and the charitable bequest can be either a fixed dollar amount, a percentage of the total estate or a percentage of the residual estate.

More Info and Sample Language

Specific Bequest Language: “I give to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, located in Charlotte, NC, the sum of $_______ to be used for its general operating support (or for the support of a specific ministry or program).

Percentage of Estate Language: “I give _____% of my estate to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, located in Charlotte, NC.”

Residual Bequest Language: A residual bequest comes to us after your estate expenses and specific bequests are paid. “I give and devise to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, located in Charlotte, NC, all (or a stated percentage) of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, to be used for its general operating support (or for the support of a specific ministry or program).

Contingent Bequest Language: the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association can be named as a contingent beneficiary in your will if one or more of your specific bequest cannot be fulfilled: “If (insert name) is not living at the time of my demise, I give and devise to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, located in Charlotte, NC, the sum of $_________ (or all or a percentage of the residue of my estate) to be used for its general operating support (or for the support of a specific ministry or program).

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is a nonprofit corporation and is qualified for tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s tax identification number is 45-2588350.

We suggest contacting an attorney to prepare a will that reflects your express wishes. Contact your Regional Manager to answer any questions you may have, with no obligation on your part.

Financial Account Beneficiary Designations

You can name the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association as beneficiary on your financial accounts. To do so contact your bank, broker or retirement account administrator and ask for the forms required to name the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association as beneficiary.

Such accounts may be referred to as “Payable on Death” or “Transfer on Death” accounts. The accounts are still owned by you. You can make withdrawals from the account and can cancel, change, give away, or otherwise deal with the account as if no other person was named in the account. At your death, the assets in the account are paid or transferred to the beneficiaries you indicate.